Colleen Bready’s Forecast: Strong winds and a temperature rollercoaster

Colleen Bready has your current conditions and updated weather forecast for Feb 27, 2026.

A temperature rollercoaster is in full swing on Friday in Winnipeg and across southern Manitoba in the midst of very strong winds.

After mild temperatures Thursday continued to rise overnight into Friday morning, temperatures will plunge across the south into mid-minus teens on Friday afternoon.

Very strong and gusty northwest winds have whipped up behind a cold front crossing the province, causing blowing snow and reduced visibility in the south.

Sections of several highways are closed early Friday afternoon in the Red River Valley, including the Perimeter Highway around Winnipeg.

Wind gusts up to 83 km/h were recorded Friday morning in Winnipeg, while Brandon saw wind gusts reach 79 km/h.

A blowing snow advisory issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada remains in effect for southern Manitoba on Friday afternoon.

The weather agency says conditions will improve from northwest to southeast through the afternoon and evening hours. Until then, ECCC said travel could be hazardous in near-zero visibility.

In Winnipeg and the Red River Valley, northwest winds will remain strong and gusty, diminishing slowly well into Friday evening. Anticipate a tough afternoon commute inside the city, with poor visibility in open areas and outside of Winnipeg, where travel is even permissible.

ECCC has extended the blowing snow advisory across northwestern Ontario, where similar conditions are expected Friday.

Meanwhile, as the low moves out, an arctic ridge of high pressure is moving in on Friday. ECCC has issued a cold warning for much of northern Manitoba, where prolonged wind chill values between -45 and -55 will continue into the weekend.

Temperatures will fall well below normal across the south on Friday night, plunging into the upper -20s. Sunshine returns on Saturday, with unseasonably cold temperatures to end the month of February.

Conditions will improve somewhat on Sunday, the first day of March and meteorological spring—the months of March, April and May. Much more springlike temperatures return on Monday.